Open up PM's relief fund

Demand families of workers missing, injured in Tazreen Fashions fire

Staff Correspondent

Families of missing and injured Tazreen Fashions workers demanded compensation from the prime minister's relief fund before Eid-ul-Fitr yesterday forming a human chain in the capital. Speakers, at the human chain in front of Jatiya Press Club, said even after 20 months since the fire at the factory on November 24, 2012, many families have not been compensated. Moreover, injured workers who are unable to find work are struggling to carry on their treatment without financial aid, they added. Rokeya Begum, mother of missing garment worker Hena, wailed sitting before a trunk full of fake money symbolising the relief fund. A heart patient, Rokeya depended on her only daughter Hena who worked in the sewing section on the third floor of Tazreen Fashions. “Now there is no one but the Almighty to look after me,” cried Rokeya whose daughter's body could not be identified among the dead bodies recovered from the fire. Government statistics show that there are 111 dead bodies and out of them 53 were unidentified initially, Faizur Rahman, additional secretary (labour), told The Daily Star over the phone. “Later 43 dead bodies were indentified through DNA tests. Among the remaining ten, eight were identified recently,” he said, adding that families of the eight might be compensated after Eid. Reading out the demands, Ruhul Hannan, husband of missing Ahenoor, said a list containing names of the eight victims were sent to Prime Minister's Office in May.